Thousands of people from across Dorset and beyond took part in a campaign to save the helicopter.

In April 2014, this culminated in campaigners delivering a petition with more than 100,000 signatures to the iconic black door of Number 10 Downing Street.

Many campaigners felt strongly that losing the Portland base could put lives at risk due to the jour- ney time from Lee-on-Solent and the loss of local know-ledge.

Figures show that between April 2015 and March 2017 Portland SAR helicopter responded to 241 taskings with the majority of those being rescue missions.

In the last year alone to March 2017, the helicopter responded to 123 incidents.

There were 2,594 civilian search and rescue helicopter operations in the UK for the year ending March 2017.

During this period, the south west was the second busiest region in the UK, with 526 call outs, margin- ally behind the Scottish Highlands.

Of all of Portland’s incidents, 62 per cent took place in coastal areas.

Roger MacPherson, who was actively involved in the Save our Helicopter campaign, said: “I am very, very sorry to see them go, but the work they have done and the lives they have saved while they’ve been here is just something you cannot put into words.

“It is an amazing service and sometime down the line I hope we can bring a similar service back to the area which is so needed.

“Portland Port is doing well, it’s getting more and more cruise liners coming in, the Jurassic Coast gets so many walkers and climbers, plus there’s so much development going on in the area so it just seems more reason that it’s needed.”

While a government e-petition containing more than 100,000 signatures can trigger a debate in the House of Commons the petition was ignored despite questions from ministers in the house.

South Dorset MP Richard Drax, who also started his own online petition, said: “The helicopter is part of our regional psyche.

“Everyone associates the search and rescue with Portland and when we look up it will no longer be our helicopter in the sky which everyone, including my- self, has fought so tirelessly to keep for so many years.”

Over its 22 years in service the Portland Search and Rescue helicopter saved the lives of countless individuals from our often treacherous coastline.

Since Her Majesty’s Coastguard (HMCG) took over the helicopter base from the Royal Navy in 1995, the crews have been tasked to thousands of operations from rescuing stricken vessels to searching for missing people.

One of those indebted to the search and rescue team is Portlander Megan O’Donovan who said her dad David O’Donovan owes them his life after he fell 100ft down an island quarry in 1999.

David was knocked out, broke his back and injured his ankle in the fall at 6pm but was found and rescued by a determined coastguard at 3am the following morning. Megan said: “My dad wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for them”

In June 1999, coastguards coordinated the rescue of 156 people after a sudden squall knocked over 78 Dart catamarans taking part in a national sailing regatta at Weymouth Bay.

In the wake of the MSC Napoli disaster in January 2007 the team were given special commendations for their tireless work after a huge cargo ship damaged her hull in a storm and beached off the Dorset coast.

Portland SAR saved all 26 crew members and limited the effects of the damaging oil leaks and floating containers.

In January 2008, a further 12 crewmen were rescued by the helicopter crew after the cargo ship Ice Prince sank in the English Channel.

Crews also made headlines in 2009 after they rescued one of Britain’s top scallop divers who dramatically vanished while diving near Lulworth Cove.

Darren Brown, who is well-known for supplying famous chefs such as Jamie Oliver and Mark Hix with his hand-picked scallops, was found swimming with the tide near Ringstead Bay.

Speaking after he was rescued, Mr Brown said: “I have nothing but admiration for the efforts of the range boat and the coastguard. I am really grateful for their help and assistance and pleased to say there was a happy outcome in this situation.”

In January 2011, sixteen kayak instructors were plucked to safety following a dramatic rescue mission which involved Weymouth’s two lifeboats and two rescue helicopters.

The experienced group got swept into the treacherous Portland Race after trying to go around Portland Bill.

Diver Mark Carroll, who was plucked to safety in 2011 the weekend before the decision to axe the helicopter, has praised coastguard’s work.

He said: “The waves and currents were so strong – we were lucky that the helicopter was local. We were told the helicopter was going to turn around but the local knowledge of the pilot helped it to go a bit further and find us. I dread to think what the outcome would have been if it wasn’t for the helicopter being local.”